Bang Si-hyuk, the chairman of HYBE, has experienced a significant decline in his personal wealth, with his net worth dropping from $2.6 billion five months ago to approximately $1.1 billion now, marking a decrease of over $1.5 billion or 57%. This decline is one of the most substantial since HYBE's public listing in 2020 and comes amid ongoing investigations into alleged unfair stock trading practices related to the company's initial public offering (IPO). Bang is under scrutiny for potentially misleading shareholders during HYBE's 2019 listing process, with claims that he may have indicated a delay in the IPO while preparations were already underway. Investigators suspect this may have allowed certain individuals to acquire shares at lower prices, resulting in alleged gains of around ₩190 billion KRW (approximately $160 million USD). The probe has involved extensive questioning and multiple raids at HYBE's headquarters. As the investigation nears its conclusion, authorities are considering whether to seek an arrest warrant against Bang, with potential penalties under South Korea's Capital Markets Act being severe, including imprisonment and substantial financial fines.